Ultimate Racing - Those Were The Days

There was a time when the term 'Stock Car' really meant 'Stock.' That was the way the sport started, and there are many that wish it was still the case. It was time when production cars right out of the showroom were modified to race on tracks around the country. In many cases, a significant portion of the production car was converted in the quest for speed.

In later decades racers trended toward custom-built tubular frame cars and as such the small businesses focusing on purpose-built race car chassis began springing up. But even today, there is nothing like the look of a converted street car/ race car.

Such an example is this '54 Ford-based machine which was built by Dan Wright in 1966. During those 13 years before Wright got his hands on the car, it undoubtedly was on the road carrying its owner to work and the grocery store just like all its brethren.

After its transformation from grocery getting to trophy getting, Wright acted as car owner, racing the Ford from 1966 to 1967. Wright sold the car and a succession of owners would campaign it around the southern and middle portions of the country. Reportedly, this all-pavement car raced at Capital Speedway in Kentucky and the SportsDrome in Indiana. But it was at Fairgrounds Speedway in Kentucky where the car competed against the likes of legendary NASCAR builder Harry Hyde.

2/26There’s no question where this car’s loyalties lie.

Longtime vintage race car fan Mike Swain from western Ohio was attracted to this car and accomplished the restoration. But it doesn't just sit, it's regularly exercised with vintage race groups.

An inspection of this car reveals some of the period building techniques and modifications that were used in car building more than four decades ago. For example, while the car sports its stock frame and stock floor, the front coil springs were heated and compacted for a lower stance. In the rear, the parallel leaf springs were heated close to their ends and were shoved up where they rested on the frame. It made the suspension much stiffer. Let's take a closer look at this former NASCAR stocker.